Bangkok--Jan 25--MFA
During 22 — 25 January 2008, Dato Aziz Benhawan, Chairman of the Advisory Council for Peace Building in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand, led a 34 member delegation to visit the Republic of Indonesia by the invitation of Dr. Din Samsuddin, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah. The purpose of this visit is to follow-up the outcome of the prior visits to Thailand by the two Islamic leaders of Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, as guests of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, last year.
The Thai delegation comprises several members of the said Advisory Council, vice governors of all the five southern border provinces, namely Narathiwat, Pattani, Satun, Songkhla, and Yala, and senior government officials from the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On 23 January 2008, Dato Aziz and his delegation, accompanied by H.E. Mr. Akrasid Amatayakul, Ambassador-designate of Thailand to Indonesia, paid courtesy calls to Prof. Dr. Din Syamsuddin at the Central Board of Muhammadiyah and to Mr. Ahmad Hasyim Muzadi, Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), at its headquarter in Jakarta, in order to learn more of the organizations and their various activities, to exchange views on numerous Islamic issues, and to discuss possible areas of cooperation to be further strengthened, particularly exchanges of students and religious scholars. The delegation also visited Islamic Hospital of Jakarta and the Faculty of Medicine, Muhammadiyah University, and the Islamic Center Jakarta founded by NU.
Both the NU and the Muhammadiyah supported the Royal Thai Government’s peaceful and reconciliatory approach in coping with the situation in the Southern Border Provinces. The Chairman of the NU has committed to provide 10 scholarships for Thai Muslim students to study in any fields, both religious and secular, at the universities under the NU’s patronage while the Muhammadiyah expressed its willingness to receive Thai students to study in the area of public healthcare at its universities.
One of the important elements to achieve long-term security and prosperity include self-empowerment, both socially and economically, through education, recognition, and financial access. Within this context, Dato Aziz and his delegation are also scheduled to visit a Muhammadiyah primary school and the largest secondary school (pesantren) of its kind run by NU, to hold meeting with the rector of the Muhammadiyah University and visit a micro-finance facility run by Muhammadiyah in Yogyakarta.
The delegation has learned from many of Indonesia’s best practices in achieving unity amid diversity. This visit also demonstrates Thailand’s continuous effort to bring back security and prosperity by peaceful and conciliatory means in the southern border provinces. It also signifies the rich and productive ties between Thailand and Indonesia.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
During 22 — 25 January 2008, Dato Aziz Benhawan, Chairman of the Advisory Council for Peace Building in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand, led a 34 member delegation to visit the Republic of Indonesia by the invitation of Dr. Din Samsuddin, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah. The purpose of this visit is to follow-up the outcome of the prior visits to Thailand by the two Islamic leaders of Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, as guests of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, last year.
The Thai delegation comprises several members of the said Advisory Council, vice governors of all the five southern border provinces, namely Narathiwat, Pattani, Satun, Songkhla, and Yala, and senior government officials from the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On 23 January 2008, Dato Aziz and his delegation, accompanied by H.E. Mr. Akrasid Amatayakul, Ambassador-designate of Thailand to Indonesia, paid courtesy calls to Prof. Dr. Din Syamsuddin at the Central Board of Muhammadiyah and to Mr. Ahmad Hasyim Muzadi, Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), at its headquarter in Jakarta, in order to learn more of the organizations and their various activities, to exchange views on numerous Islamic issues, and to discuss possible areas of cooperation to be further strengthened, particularly exchanges of students and religious scholars. The delegation also visited Islamic Hospital of Jakarta and the Faculty of Medicine, Muhammadiyah University, and the Islamic Center Jakarta founded by NU.
Both the NU and the Muhammadiyah supported the Royal Thai Government’s peaceful and reconciliatory approach in coping with the situation in the Southern Border Provinces. The Chairman of the NU has committed to provide 10 scholarships for Thai Muslim students to study in any fields, both religious and secular, at the universities under the NU’s patronage while the Muhammadiyah expressed its willingness to receive Thai students to study in the area of public healthcare at its universities.
One of the important elements to achieve long-term security and prosperity include self-empowerment, both socially and economically, through education, recognition, and financial access. Within this context, Dato Aziz and his delegation are also scheduled to visit a Muhammadiyah primary school and the largest secondary school (pesantren) of its kind run by NU, to hold meeting with the rector of the Muhammadiyah University and visit a micro-finance facility run by Muhammadiyah in Yogyakarta.
The delegation has learned from many of Indonesia’s best practices in achieving unity amid diversity. This visit also demonstrates Thailand’s continuous effort to bring back security and prosperity by peaceful and conciliatory means in the southern border provinces. It also signifies the rich and productive ties between Thailand and Indonesia.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-